SATURDAY 05 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR BLACK PHASE: STALIN AS PRESIDENT NIXES NEET EXEMPTION BILL DHANKHAR HAILS WAQF BILL PASSAGE IN RECORD RS SITTING P5 SENSEX 75,364.69q930.67 WEATHER Generally clear. Nearby storms may bring lightning, gusty winds. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 38°C and 27°C respectively. NIFTY ‘ECI IS NOT UNBIASED’ P6 22,904.45q345.65 ` vs $ 85.23 P9 PM stresses on expanding BIMSTEC’s scope, boosting institutional capacities ASHOK TUTEJA Max. 75% Min. 48% NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL Min: 27.3˚C SUN SETS 17:53 hrs MOON SETS 00:25 hrs U PM Modi meets Yunus, raises concerns over safety of Hindus TEMPERATURE Max: 38.2˚C SUN RISES 05:25 hrs MOON RISES 11:11 hrs Full Moon on 13 April THUMBNAILS With the rising sun, devotees arrive to perform ‘Arghya’ on the fourth and last day of the Chaiti Chhath festival 2025, at river Ganga in Patna on Friday. n ANI Quad pledges over $20 million in humanitarian assistance for quake-hit Myanmar: The four Quad nations on Friday pledged over $20 million in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar to deal with the situation arising from the recent earthquake in the country. In a joint statement, India, Japan, Australia and the United States expressed deep sympathies and condolences to the peoples of Myanmar and Thailand following the quake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March. nderlining that a free, open, secure, and safe Indian Ocean is the shared priority of BIMSTEC nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed a 21point action plan to boost cooperation among the members of the sevennation grouping. Addressing the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, he proposed, among other things, establishing connectivity between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the payment systems of BIMSTEC member states. Such integration, he said, would bring substantial benefits across trade, industry, and tourism, enhancing economic activity at all levels. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), brings together the nations of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar. PM Modi said India will extend support for NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL training and capacity-building in cancer care across BIMSTEC countries. Mr Modi said that to further strengthen BIMSTEC, the member-nations must continue to expand the grouping's scope and enhance its institutional capacities. “It is encouraging to note that the Home Ministers’ mechanism is being institutionalised. This forum can play a major role in the fight against cybercrime, cybersecurity threats, terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. In this regard, I propose that India host the first meeting of this mechanism later this year,” he said. Trade and business connectivity are vital to the collective progress of the BIMSTEC nations, Mr Modi said and proposed the creation of a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce. He also suggested conducting a feasibility study to explore the potential for trade in local currencies within the BIMSTEC region. He proposed setting up a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre. The PM said that the recent earthquake which shook Myanmar and Thailand was a stark reminder of how vulnerable the region remains to natural disasters and proposed setting up a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed to Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus India's deep concern over the safety and security of the minorities, including Hindus, in the neighbouring country and hoped the interim government would ensure their safety, including by thoroughly investigating all cases of atrocities committed against them. The two leaders met on the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Bangladesh's request for the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came up during the meeting, but declined to provide details. SNS P16 SILVER 1,08,000 GOLD 93,230.00 BIMSTEC: PM proposes 21-point action plan RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY IPL 2025: SPINNERS TAKE CENTRESTAGE AS CHENNAI HOST DELHI BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 65.26q4.88 Protests erupt day after Parl clears Waqf Amendment Bill The Rajya Sabha sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation, with 128 MPs voting in favour and 95 against. NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL Protests were held in Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi and other cities against the Waqf Amendment Bill on Friday. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours on Friday, following its passage in the Lok Sabha the previous day. The Rajya Sabha sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation, with 128 MPs voting in favour and 95 against. The Lok Sabha, which took up discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, also passed it past midnight after a marathon debate. Muslim organisations, under the banner of Joint Forum for Waqf Protection took to the streets in Kolkata to protest against the Bill. In Delhi, students protested outside the Jamia Millia Islamia against the Waqf Amendment Bill. Protests were also held in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and other cities. SNS Veteran actor Manoj Kumar passes away STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL Veteran actor Manoj Kumar passed away at the age of 87 on Friday. A legendary name in Hindi cinema, he was best known for his patriotic films like Shaheed (1965), Upkar (1967), and Purab Aur Paschim (1970). He breathed his last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, family sources said. The actor was reportedly admitted to the hospital after suffering heart-related complications. According to the hospital, the secondary cause of death was decompensated liver cirrhosis. Born in presentday Pakistan, Kumar’s birth name is Harikrishan Giri Goswami. Nicknamed ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his patriotic roles, he received the Padma Shri in 1992 for his contributions to Bollywood and was later honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.